Boulder police: Youth pastor at Vinelife Church had 'inappropriate relationship' with teen

By Joe Rubino Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
09/05/2013 04:13:49 PM MDT

Updated:
09/05/2013 08:58:52 PM MDT

Jason Allen Roberson (Boulder County Sheriff's Office)

A youth pastor at Vinelife Church is facing charges of sexual assault on a child after Boulder police allege he was having an "inappropriate relationship" with a teenage church member, officials said Thursday.

Jason Allen Roberson, 35, turned himself in at the Boulder County Jail after police issued a warrant for his arrest. He is facing charges of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust and invasion of privacy.

Roberson was a close friend of the victim's family and, according to an arrest warrant affidavit, used his position as an authority figure and spiritual guide to manipulate her.

Vinelife Church is at 7845 Lookout Road in Boulder County.

The victim, who lives in Boulder, is now 23. She told police she and Roberson had an inappropriate relationship that began when she was 15 and continued for seven years, according to police.

At age 15, she became interested in pursuing a career in the church and began exchanging text messages with Roberson, which eventually evolved into 10 to 15 phone calls a week, according to the affidavit.

A year into their relationship, Roberson called the victim to tell her he was suicidal, and she spent several hours talking with him, according to the affidavit. She said he expressed suicidal thoughts at least four other times and she began to feel responsible for his emotional wellbeing.

"(The victim) had never had a boyfriend and knew little about intimate relationships," Detective Brannon Winn wrote in the affidavit. "(The victim) told me that now, looking back, she realizes that Jason was able to take her reality and twist it for his own personal use."

In 2006, the victim said Roberson began showing up unexpectedly at her school and home, according to the affidavit, on one occasion letting himself into her house late at night after everyone else had gone to bed. She spoke with him briefly and he left the home, but later admitted to watching her change clothes through a window, police said.

In 2007, Roberson touched the victim in a sexual manner for the first time, according to the affidavit. She said she walked into his office at the church and he walked in behind her, closing the door, and began touching her chest in a sexual manner.

The victim recalled feeling "violated" and wanting to "get out of her skin," the affidavit said.

Roberson touched her in a sexual way at least 10 other times before her 18th birthday, the victim told police.

Through interviews with church leaders and documents obtained by court order, police learned that Roberson had "repeatedly confessed" to inappropriately touching the victim.

In an interview with police, officers reported, Roberson admitted to touching the victim inappropriately but said it only occurred after she began attending classes at the University of Colorado.

Vinelife Church issued a statement acknowledging that the church is aware of the accusations against an "employee working within the church."

The statement, which never identifies Roberson by name, says church leadership is cooperating with Boulder police and the family of the woman involved.

"Given the nature of the claims, the privacy interests of the persons involved and their families, and the ongoing police investigation, we cannot provide any details at this time," the church said. "We ask for church membership, as well as the members of the public, to pray for all those affected by these events."

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